Dr. FARKHANDA RAHMAN
“Wandechali, sheen galli, bai yee bahar” (winter will flee, the snow will melt, and the spring will return) ~ Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor. The geographical and geometrical transitions bring up blooming face of the universe to spotlight.Spring is a symbol of hopefulness. It dresses up the mother earth colorful. The dormant buds that had been protected from cold waves, smile behind the sprouting sepals. The fragrance of blooms rejuvenates the air. Flowers with their bright emergence let the wasps buzz, collect nectar and disperse sweetness. Spring as a season of light is a metaphor yet truth.
The endless dark nights calmly and passionately are bunched to make space for long lit days. The lofty Sun, as a powerhouse of illumination takes time to go down giving all living beings an opportunity to endure more in light full horizon. Eyes are the gateway to our inner self. Watching the bleach wilted and barren flora getting dressed in green tranquilize the soul. The winter seal of tightly shut windows is breaking, letting the spring breezes to escalate and replace the cold aroma. All the positive energy in and spider webs out!
Good season pulls up good mood and good mood good work. Gone are the chills that used to shiver the spine. All the ventures (offices, schools, shops, vegetable and fruit sellers etc.) are set early. The winter stock of dried veggies has exhausted. All the freshness is at the door step. The inhabitants of nowhere; migratory birds get the home calling. Their dried homelands have now flourished to offer them and their new born bubbles resourcefulness. Natives come while guests go. Swirling, singing and unfurling their flags of existence in the places they grow.
Winter somehow jam-packslives like it freezes the cascades. Spring brings to life the music of gushing rivers. They begin to flow atthe peak of their youth.Lambs start hikingwith adrenaline rush in their weather proof coats. Communities shift with ponies loaded with their households. Spring encourages greater movement and striving. Schools are to the children what sun is to the sunflowers. As the spring comes schools blossom. The creased uniforms, polished shoes, new bags and warm handshakes nourish the new starting.Giggling with friends evaporates their dampened winter mood. Spring is the season of reunion.
With the world clock, biological clock of a human being also changes from season to season. Human body is permeable to energies of nature and hence we behave differently in different seasons. After the cold and damp winter, spring gives the healing touch. In Kashmir we keep a countdown of ‘Chillai Kalan’ and rejoice by the thoughts of upcoming spring. Gardeners in yards, outdoor games, camping, preparing of fields for a new crop, spring is an exuberant season. In spring a person is like a hibernating animal waking from its month long doze. Human body is driven by the minute biological junkies; the hormones. Our endocrine setup and the supporting hormonal changes push us to greater vitality, sharpen our senses and clear our minds.
Owing to the lesser secretion of melatonin hormone, persons with seasonal affective disorders (sad)experience lessdepressive episodes during spring compared to late fall and winter season.The happiness hormone; serotonin is released after exposure to sunlight. It calms our minds and boosts our moods. Spring is the nature’s way of saying ‘let’s party’ to our brain. Staying indoors in sunny spring days is resentful. Like the sprouting of a flower from its bud, spring opens our mind to new changes, challenges and ideas.
Pen is a poet’s magic wand. The centre of gravity for poems and proses is spring. As rebirth, reunion, rejuvenation, reinstate, rehabilitation and rejoice, spring is the heart of poems and proses. Spring as a core is presented as the end of yearning and longing. Shakespeare calls April as the youth of all months.
While one rejoices the sunlight, other may focus on the shadows it castes. Every one of us may not feel the positive vibe of spring. When all others have rolled sleeves to go out in the season, the one who loves to stay indoors feels isolated. Spring is the season of increased energy and demands greater enthusiasm. Pollen allergies, flu outbreaks and Anti-SAD events may trigger burnouts. The officers and officials who have to present the yearly achievements in the month of Marchmay feel spring as burdening than the relaxing season.Spring is a season of uncluttering the junk and cleaning the pileups. The mighty Chinar and other flora are left barren after shedding their belongings in fall. They still stand taller and stronger and patiently wait for the right time to regain their beauty. Same implies to us as well. After a hurricane comes the rainbow.
Any time or season can be made the foundation stone for a new beginning. Overnight change is a lie but perseverance is the key to hit the goal. The goal of learning the art of letting go, cutting the hooks of overthinking, building patience for things not in our control, taking lessons from the rollercoaster rides of life, mapping steps to fulfil the dreams, the self-therapy of healing and the practice of connecting to the Creator. In a broader view any season and how we go with its flow is the game of our mental faculty as goes the saying; “despite the forecast, live like its spring”-Lilly Pulitzer.
(Author is Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Department of Animal Husbandry Kashmir and can be reached out at [email protected])
